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JJ Cooper and Carlos Collazo make the 1-1 case for each of the top three players in the 2026 draft class.Which is most compelling to you: The proven college shortstop with big tools? The outlier catcher athlete with a huge power surge this spring? Or the impeccable pure-hitting prep shortstop with a lefthanded swing to dream on? —Time Stamps:(0:40) The premise(1:50) The case for Roch Cholowsky(14:15) The case for Vahn Lackey(27:10) The case for Grady EmersonTo get your new wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month, go to MintMobile.com/Territory. That's it there's no catch.Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com* Check out Quince and use my code quince.com/ba2022 for a great deal: https://www.quince.com* Check out Shopify and use my code shopify.com/baseballamerica for a great deal: https://www.shopify.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
On this week's Prospect Podcast, Ian Cundall and JJ Cooper discuss a pair of Top 100 Prospects who slid down our rankings in the first half of the 2026 season, but who are both bouncing back now.(00:00) Why Ranking Prospects Is Hard, But Fun(02:30) Why Red Sox RHP Kyson Witherspoon Took A Step Back(09:10) Why Witherspoon's Season Has Turned Around(14:35) Why Tigers SS Bryce Rainer Got Off Track(18:30) How Rainer Is Putting It Back TogetherOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com* Check out Quince and use my code quince.com/ba2022 for a great deal: https://www.quince.com* Check out Shopify and use my code shopify.com/baseballamerica for a great deal: https://www.shopify.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Blake Murphy is joined by Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith to discuss Shane Bieber's return on Tuesday, managing the Alejandro Kirk-Brandon Valenzuela platoon and the epic comeback victory on Saturday. Astros Radio Broadcaster Robert Ford (30:00) talks Hunter Brown, Josh Hader and the rest of Houston's lineup ahead of their 3-game set vs. the Blue Jays. Fangraphs' Paul Sporer (49:54) breaks down the perplexing case of Kyle Bradish and other inconsistent starters, latest trends and the approach to Shane Bieber and Trey Yesavage in Fantasy Baseball. Lastly, Baseball America's JJ Cooper (1:13:34) analyzes the latest proposal in labour negotiations, specifically the suggested drastic change to the MLB Draft which would eliminate high school prospects from the draft. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.
We're taking a bit of a different approach on this week's Baseball America Draft Podcast. With the news breaking Thursday of MLB's proposal to significantly overhaul the MLB draft, eliminating high school player eligibility along with many other changes, JJ Cooper, Carlos Collazo and Jacob Rudner share what they've heard from their reporting about what this would mean.(00:00) Carlos and JJ discuss what scouts, front office officials and others are saying about the plan to change the MLB draft.(48:15) Jacob and JJ discuss what college coaches and other college officials have to say about what this would mean for college baseball and the MLB draft.Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com* Check out Quince and use my code quince.com/ba2022 for a great deal: https://www.quince.com* Check out Shopify and use my code shopify.com/baseballamerica for a great deal: https://www.shopify.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
To get you ready for the College World Series Finals series, Jacob Rudner and JJ Cooper take an in-depth look at both Oklahoma and North Carolina. What are each team's strengths and weaknesses? What could be the difference? We cover it all on the latest Baseball America College Podcast.(00:00) Scouting Oklahoma(13:40) Scouting North Carolina(30:00) What Would Winning Mean For Each Team(34:30) We Predict Who Will WinUse our code for 10% off your next order of MLB tickets on SeatGeek* https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TERRITORY10Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discountOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com* Check out Quince and use my code quince.com/ba2022 for a great deal: https://www.quince.com* Check out Shopify and use my code shopify.com/baseballamerica for a great deal: https://www.shopify.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
On this week's Prospect Podcast, Geoff Pontes, JJ Cooper and Ian Cundall discuss a slew of prospects who are having exceptional seasons. Many of these prospects weren't on Top 30s coming into the season, but they're having seasons worth a second look. Why are we still skeptical with some, and which breakouts do we think have staying power.(02:00) Owen Ayers, C, Cubs(13:00) Manuel Pena, 1B, D-backs(22:30) Jason Schiavone, C, Astros(28:00) Ben Ross, SS, Twins(34:45) Lonnie White Jr., OF, Pirates(42:00) Sean Keys, 1B, Blue JaysUse our code for 10% off your next order of MLB tickets on SeatGeek* https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TERRITORY10Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discountOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com* Check out Quince and use my code quince.com/ba2022 for a great deal: https://www.quince.com* Check out Shopify and use my code shopify.com/baseballamerica for a great deal: https://www.shopify.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
JJ Cooper and Carlos Collazo talk about potential pick scenarios that might not be the most likely, but could be real possibilities on draft day. How does the board get shaken up if a few teams opt for less likely options within the first few picks? The two work 10 picks down the board to talk through those scenarios in today's “alternate mock draft” podcast.—Time Stamps:(1:45) What is happening with the draft right now?(6:00) Alternate mock draft begins(8:00) White Sox(14:30) Rays(18:10) Twins(22:20) Giants(30:40) Pirates(35:20) Royals(40:30) Orioles(46:10) Braves(49:00) RockiesOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com* Check out Quince and use my code quince.com/ba2022 for a great deal: https://www.quince.com* Check out Shopify and use my code shopify.com/baseballamerica for a great deal: https://www.shopify.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Geoff Pontes, Ian Cundall and JJ Cooper are talking about a pair of farm systems that have impressed in the first two months of the season. The Braves and Dodgers have both seen multiple players move up or join the Top 100 Prospects rankings. We discuss what's happening.(00:00) How The Braves Have Taken A Step Forward(02:00) Eric Hartman, Tate Southisene, Briggs McKenzie And Others To Know(07:00) What Has Changed In The Braves Approach(11:30) How The Braves Have Made The Draft Work For Them(15:00) Could The Braves Trade From Their New Prospect Depth?(23:00) The Dodgers Farm System Is Good ... Again(26:00) The Outfield Depth Is Absurd(27:00) Dodgers Prospect Names To Know(35:00) How The Dodgers Do ItUse our code for 10% off your next SeatGeek order for MLB Tickets* https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TERRITORY10 Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discountOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com* Check out Quince and use my code quince.com/ba2022 for a great deal: https://www.quince.com* Check out Shopify and use my code shopify.com/baseballamerica for a great deal: https://www.shopify.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Jacob Rudner, Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper get you ready for the 2026 College World Series with looks at all eight clubs.(00:00) Super Regional Wrap-up(12:00) College World Series Preview(12:30) Troy Preview(16:30) West Virginia Preview(22:50) North Carolina Preview(29:50) Ole Miss Preview (36:45) Alabama Preview(44:00) Oklahoma Preview(49:40) Georgia Preview(59:00) Texas Preview(65:00) CWS PredictionsTo explore coverage, visit https://www.aspcapetinsurance.com/FOUL. The ASPCA® is not an insurer and is not engaged in the business of insurance.Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com* Check out Quince and use my code quince.com/ba2022 for a great deal: https://www.quince.com* Check out Shopify and use my code shopify.com/baseballamerica for a great deal: https://www.shopify.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
With the start of a new month, it's time for us to do another comprehensive update of our MLB Top 100 Prospects rankings. On today's Prospect Podcast, Josh Norris, Ian Cundall and JJ Cooper discuss some of the players who made significant moves up and also talk about why some other prospects moved down.(00:00) What's different about the June Top 100 update(08:00) Franklin Arias' rise(11:00) Josh Norris' bold proclamations about Ryan Sloan(14:45) Ethan Salas is healthy(16:50) Theo Gillen has made the leap(19:40) Mike Sirota does a lot of things very well(23:00) Three other prospects who are climbing(26:45) Walker Jenkins struggles to stay healthy(29:00) Max Clark is sliding a bit(31:00) Caleb Bonemer needs to work on off-speed pitches(32:30) Robby Snelling and Aidan Miller have injury issues(37:15) Three other prospects who slid(42:15) Three prospects who could join the list soonOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com* Check out Quince and use my code quince.com/ba2022 for a great deal: https://www.quince.com* Check out Shopify and use my code shopify.com/baseballamerica for a great deal: https://www.shopify.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
It was a wonderful and wild weekend of NCAA Regionals. Geoff Pontes, Jacob Rudner and JJ Cooper wrap up what happened, winners and losers from last weekend and look ahead to the Super Regionals and beyond.(00:00) Why This Year Is Different(02:00) Cinderellas Abound Is This A Sign That There's More Parity?(07:15) JJ was wrong about a CWS concern(14:45) Explaining the ACC's horrible weekend(22:20) The Big Ten And Big 12 Stand Out(27:45) Super Regionals Preview(28:00) Picking Our CWS Favorites(35:35) Troy And Little Rock's Paths To The Super Regionals(39:30) Could Kansas Win It All?(44:15) The Calendar Could Work Against These Super Regionals TeamsOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com* Check out Quince and use my code quince.com/ba2022 for a great deal: https://www.quince.com* Check out Shopify and use my code shopify.com/baseballamerica for a great deal: https://www.shopify.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
JJ Cooper and Carlos Collazo break down the milestone BA 500 draft update for the 2026 class. The two talk about a handful of notable risers, including players inside the first round and beyond, and then pick five players who are poised to impact their draft stock in the NCAA tournament. —Time Stamps:(3:30) Tyler Bell(9:00) Taylor Rabe(16:00) Owen Hull(19:20) Garrett Wright(22:00) Two high school hitters to know(24:00) NCAA prospects to watch / Cam Flukey(28:45) Justin Lebron(31:30) Gabe Gaeckle(34:00) Ben Blair(37:00) Ryan Marohn—MACK WELDONGet 20% off your first order of $125 or more at https://MackWeldon.com with promo code FOULAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
We're taking a look at which organizations have the best position groups on the new Baseball America Prospect Podcast. Josh Norris, Ian Cundall and JJ Cooper hold a draft to pick which teams stand out.(00:00) Seeing Gage Wood, Seaver King and Brewers Prospects(06:00) Picking The Best Catching Groups(13:00) Picking The Best Corner Infield Groups(22:15) Picking The Best Middle Infield Groups(30:25) Picking The Best Outfield Groups(37:30) Picking The Best Righthanded Pitcher Groups(44:25) Picking The Best Lefthanded Pitcher GroupsOriginal story: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/drafting-the-ideal-mlb-farm-system-for-2026-using-top-prospect-position-groups/BLUE CHEWBuy two months of BlueChew Gold and get the third for FREE with promo code FOUL at https://bluechew.com/Our Sponsors:* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/ba2022Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
We hear from Matt Quatraro in the Need to Know (on Bailey Falter)! Then, Baseball America's JJ Cooper joins us to talk Royals, their prospects, and a look ahead to the MLB Draft! Finally, an Arkansas AD went wild on Twitter!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The NCAA college baseball field of 64 is set, and Jacob Rudner, Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper are excited to talk about who's in, who has a tough or easy regional, who has a complaint about being snubbed and who could win it all.(00:00) Analyzing the national seeds(07:30) The toughest regional this weekend(12:45) Trying to understand seeding decisions(19:30) N.C. State makes the tourney in Elliott Avent's final season(22:00) Baffled by the Wolfpack not being a Last Four Team in(24:00) Why we think Mercer should have made it(30:00) The goalposts for what mid-majors need to do keeps changing(33:15) The ACC and SEC came out quite well(37:55) The plight of UTSA(44:10) Looking at Michigan's case(46:50) Predicting the champion(51:30) Picking a sleeper who could win it all(55:00) Picking toughest/weakest regional(59:30) Players we are excited to seeOur Sponsors:* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/ba2022Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
On this week's Draft Podcast, Carlos Collazo and JJ Cooper take a look at three prominent draft prospects with some worrisome stats on their resume. How worried should you be about these prospects?(02:00) Stats We Care About(03:00) TCU's Sawyer Stronsnider's batting average(14:00) UCSB's Jackson Flora's K-BB%(25:30) SS Jacob Lombard's miss ratehttps://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/why-batting-average-is-still-relevant-for-these-3-high-risk-2026-college-hitters/Our Sponsors:* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/ba2022Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
We have updated all 30 MLB team's Top 30 Prospect rankings, so we're going to talk about it on this week's Prospect Podcast. Josh Norris, Ian Cundall and JJ Cooper are talking about teams and prospects who have raised their stock so far this season.(00:00) Orgs We Were Impressed By And Which Have Thinned Out(13:00) Why LuJames Groover Stood Out(14:20) Ben Grable Is Rising Up The Yankees list(15:20) Why Justin Campbell Was Tough To Rank(18:00) Caden Hunter Is An O's Pitcher To Know(19:15) Jonah Cox Has Hit His Way Onto The Top 30(20:25) Tigers CF Jesus Pinto Can Really Hit(21:45) Robert Arias Has A Sweet Line-Drive Swing(23:40) Alirio Ferrebus Is A Hot-Hitting Catcher(24:30) Eduardo Rivera Is Throwing StrikesTo explore coverage, visit https://www.aspcapetinsurance.com/FOUL. The ASPCA® is not an insurer and is not engaged in the business of insurance.Our Sponsors:* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/ba2022Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
We rolled out our third mock draft of the year this week, so Carlos Collazo and JJ Cooper dive into the details of the mock for this week's Draft Podcast.(00:00) What has changed since Mock Draft V 2.0?(01:15) A clear top tier(03:30) When you get to the seventh or eighth pick from there on, it gets really muddy(09:00) Is Ryder Helfrick a sneaky top 10 pick?(11:30) Why we don't think the Giants trade enters them into the Roch Cholowsky sweepstakes(21:30) Why teams in the 20s/30s may be really happy(27:20) Why Logan Reddemann's range of outcomes is so wide.(31:00) Teams that could benefit from how this draft board lays out(35:00) A couple of fringe of the first round bats who are worth inspecting(38:30) Would you rather pick eighth or have multiple picks in the 25-40 range?SEAT GEEKUse our code for 10% off your next SeatGeek order* https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TERRITORY10 Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discountOur Sponsors:* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/ba2022Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
On this week's Prospect Podcast, Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper take a look at five rising prospects in the top 100. You may know these names, or maybe you don't. But you will, so we help you get ahead.(00:00) Braves OF Eric Hartman(10:00) Orioles 1B/OF Ike Irish(14:10) Giants SS Luis Hernandez(19:30) Rays C Nathan Flewelling(26:10) Nationals 2B/3B Devin Fitz-GeraldSEAT GEEKUse our code for 10% off your next SeatGeek order* https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TERRITORY10 Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discountOur Sponsors:* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/ba2022Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
On this week's Draft Podcast, Carlos Collazo and JJ Cooper take a look at the best tools in the 2026 MLB Draft. To do so, we hold a draft of our own to pick the best in a variety of important categories.(03:30) Picking Best Fastballs In The Class(11:30) Picking Best Secondary Pitches In The Class(16:45) Best Control and Command In The Class(23:15) Best Hit Tool In The Class(28:00) Best Power In The Class(33:00) Best Speed In the Class(35:15) Best Defense In The ClassOur Sponsors:* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/ba2022Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
On this week's Prospect Podcast Josh Norris, Ian Cundall and JJ Cooper discuss our brand new Top 100 Prospects update. With the trio at the top of the rankings either graduated or about to graduate, we analyzed the next No. 1 prospect, as well as other prospects who made notable moves on the list.(00:00) Who Is Going To Be The Next No. 1 Prospect(10:45) Who Else Is In The No. 1 Prospect Discussion?(16:45) Why Caleb Bonemer's Ranking Led To Interesting Discussions(24:00) The Nationals' Ronny Cruz Has Joined The Top 100(27:45) The Padres' Ethan Salas Is Moving Up(29:40) Anthony Eyanson Is The Biggest Riser To Join The Top 100(31:00) Caden Bodine Is Dominating, But We Would Love To See Him Move UpBLUE CHEWBuy two months of BlueChew Gold and get the third for FREE with promo code FOUL at BlueChew.comOur Sponsors:* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/ba2022Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
With the Baseball America MLB Draft Rankings expanded to 400 players, Carlos Collazo and JJ Cooper are taking a look at who moved way up and explained why some other prospects are sliding down.(00:00) The Draft 400 Is Live(Roch Is Still On Top(07:30) Where Is The Draft Demarcation Line(15:00) Where The Draft Went Wide Open(16:45) Will We Move Prep Picks Down Later?(21:00) Where Is Justin Lebron?(27:00) Two Pitchers Moving Way Up(35:00) Why The Padres are a no-brainer team to link to Brody BumilaSEAT GEEKUse our code for 10% off your next SeatGeek order* seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TERRITORY10 Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discountOur Sponsors:* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/ba2022Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
On this week's Prospect Podcast, Ian Cundall, Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper take a look at some of the most notable prospect performances of April.(00:00) Ian has been checking out the California League(07:30) Why we're even more optimistic about Franklin Arias(13:00) Three prospects making arguments for promotions(29:00) Why are MLB lefty rookie starters dominating right now?SEAT GEEKUse our code for 10% off your next SeatGeek order* seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TERRITORY10 Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discountOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
On this week's Baseball America Draft Podcast, JJ Cooper and Carlos Collazo are taking an in-depth look at Roch Cholowsky's 2026 season. Is he living up to expectations or falling a bit short? We dive in to explain what we're hearing.Time Stamps(00:00) Quick Look At How The Top Of The Draft Shapes Up(07:45) Looking At Roch Cholowsky's 2026 Season Compared To 2025(13:40) Digging Deeper Into Cholowsky's Underlying Analytical Data(15:00) A Way That Cholowsky Has Clearly Been Better(26:00) Looking At Cholowsky DefensivelySEAT GEEKUse our code for 10% off your next SeatGeek order* https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TERRITORY10 Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discountOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
On this week's Prospect Podcast, Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper look at a trio of prospects off to great starts, plus we look at why the Nationals Class A teams are ones to watch.(00:00) Franklin Arias Is Hitting For Power(06:00) Colby Shelton Looks Like He's Combining Power And Contact(10:00) Seth Hernandez Is Must-See MiLB.TV(18:30) What Is Going Well For The Nationals, Including An Emerging ProspectSQUAREGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/FOUL #squarepodOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
This week on the Baseball America Draft Podcast, Carlos Collazo, Jacob Rudner and JJ Cooper take a look at a 2026 MLB draft prospect each of us is intrigued by at three different levels: First Rounders, Top 100 Prospects and Non-Top 100 Prospects.(04:30) Why Tyler Spangler Intrigues Carlos(06:20) Why Logan Reddemann Intrigues Jacob(11:00) Why Tegan Kuhns Intrigues JJ(19:30) Why Ben Blair Intrigues Jacob(25:30) Why Kaiden McCarthy Intrigues Carlos(29:00) Why Tre Phelps Intrigues JJ(37:30) Why Tre Broussard Intrigues Carlos(44:00) Why Cam Johnson Intrigues JJ(56:45) Why Caden Ferraro Intrigues JacobRIDGE WALLETOne thing to pack, five ways to power! Get 10% Off @Ridge with code FOUL at Ridge.com/FOUL #RidgepodOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
This week on the Baseball America Prospect Podcast, Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper invite you to a pair of drafts. We each drafted a team from current rookies, as then we drafted prospect teams. And to make it harder on ourselves, we limited each picker to one player per org, and only six Top 100 Prospects among the 14 player rosters.(00:00) A little early season prospect talk(07:00) Picking The Rookie Teams(38:30) Picking The Prospect TeamsRIDGE WALLETOne thing to pack, five ways to power! Get 10% Off @Ridge with code FOUL at Ridge.com/FOUL #RidgepodOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Baseball America's JJ Cooper joins the show to dissect the Royals! Plus, a Tigers Rookie gets a bag!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this week's Baseball America Draft Podcast, Carlos Collazo and JJ Cooper look ahead to the 2027 MLB Draft class, led by a truly special pitching prospect.(1:00) Why the college pitching in 27 is so special(4:00) Dax Whitney is the best MLB Draft pitching prospect since …(7:10) Why the industry prefers hitters early(9:00) How this group is moving faster than normal(14:00) Why Paul Skenes creates optimism for Dax Whitney(28:00) Why Brendan Lawson stands out among the hittersOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
This week on the Prospect Podcast, Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper take a look at some pitching prospects who could climb onto the Top 100 Prospects list this year.(00:00) How long do you need to wait to believe in early season performances?(06:45) A big Orioles pitcher to pay attention to(11:00) A Cardinals pitcher who is taking a step forward(18:15) A Dodgers pitcher who is healthy again(23:20) Why our youngest players in each league charts matterOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
JJ Cooper, Geoff Pontes, and Ian Cundall discuss the strong MLB debuts of this year's rookie class, including JJ Wetherholt and Kevin McGonigle, and thoughts on Konnor Griffin in his first week in the show.Of the three, who might put together the best season in 2026?Who will be the new number 1 prospect in baseball when this current class graduates next month? The hosts dive into their favorite performers of the early MiLB season.Plus, will UCLA ever be stopped?Use our code TERRITORY10 for 10% off your next SeatGeek order* https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TERR... Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discountCoach Smarter, Connect Live, Replay the Action with GameChanger. Learn more at gc.comOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
On this week's Draft Podcast, JJ Cooper and Carlos Collazo cover a lot of ground. Konnor Griffin is a big leaguer less than two years after he was drafted out of high school. We saw a lot of draft prospects at the National High School Invitational and we look at the lack of top-tier SEC draft arms.(0:30) Anticipating Konnor Griffin's debut(6:20) Bonus pools are out(13:25) NHSI talk(22:00) Where are the SEC arms? Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
As the MiLB season near Opening Day, we have a look at prospects who caught our eye on the back fields in Arizona. Jesús Cano and Josh Norris join JJ Cooper to talk about some of the best prospects they saw this month.(01:45) Why the Mariners Ryan Sloan could be the best pitching prospect in the game(07:20) Comparing Sloan and Pirates RHP Seth Hernandez(09:25) Angels RHP Nate Sneed throws really hard(11:15) Red Sox RHP Marcus Phillips is another former Vol pitcher to know(11:40) Dodgers OF James Tibbs is hitting the ball harder in the air(13:15) Brewers and Guardians sleepers to know(16:30) The Angels farm system improvement caught Josh's eye. The pitching is impressive(18:00) The White Sox have a loaded Triple-A club(25:40) Royals RHP Kendry Chourio Throws Hard Strikes(30:25) Rockies OF Roldy Brito can really hit(35:00) The A's Breyson Guedez is a fast mover(37:15) The Giants system is improving(42:30) We have some good news/bad news as Jesús Cano is leaving usAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
We just rolled out an update of our MLB Draft rankings as we expanded them to the Top 300 prospects. On this week's Draft Podcast, Carlos Collazo and JJ Cooper take a look at some of the players who moved up and down the most.(0:00) What's the current perception of the class?(7:30) Vahn Lackey(10:30) Ace Reese & Chris Hacopian(13:20) Derek Curiel & Eric Becker(18:30) Kevin Roberts Jr. & Brady Harris(23:00) More polarizing profiles(33:30) In the weeds of the 200 rangeOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://progressive.com* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/BA2022Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper have been all over the Florida backfields and Spring Breakout games, so this week they're sharing thoughts on prospects who impressed.(00:00) Eli Willits looks really polished for his age(05:45) Gavin Fien can hit, but we didn't see him field(09:45) Anthony Eyanson's velocity jump is notable(19:15) John Gil is a Braves hitter who could rise up our rankings(21:15) Fenwick Trimble caught our eyes(22:45) The Cardinals' Tanner Franklin can elevate and celebrate(25:15) The Blue Jays have a pair of young infielders who should provide powerSEAT GEEKUse our code TERRITORY10 for 10% off your next SeatGeek order* https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TERRITORY10 Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discountOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://progressive.com* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/BA2022Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
JJ Cooper and Geoff Pontes want to get you ready for the Spring Breakout games on the latest Baseball America Prospect Podcast. We take a look at less prominent prospects who are worth watching this week.(00:00) Why this week's podcast was delayed(01:00) Geoff's World Baseball Classic experience was amazing(07:40) Why these rosters are a bit disappointing(11:00) Games well worth watching(15:00) Geoff and JJ each pick a Non-Top 100 Top 10 Prospect to watch in the breakout games(20:00) Geoff and JJ each pick a Top 30 prospect outside the Top 10s to watch(24:00) Geoff and JJ each pick a non Top 30 prospect to watch in the breakout games(31:00) JJ found a deep, deep sleeper on the back fields at Astros campBLUE CHEWGet 10% off your first month of BlueChew Gold with code FOUL at https://bluechew.com/Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://progressive.com* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/BA2022Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
On this week's Draft Podcast, Carlos Collazo and JJ Cooper take a look at several prospects who will move up in our next draft rankings update.(0:00) Draft rankings process(4:10) Jake Brown(7:45) Hunter Dietz(11:35) Bo Holloway(15:45) Taj Marchand(19:00) Vahn LackeyBLUE CHEWGet 10% off your first month of BlueChew Gold with code FOUL at https://bluechew.com/Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://progressive.com* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/BA2022Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
On this week's Draft Podcast Carlos Collazo and JJ Cooper take an in-depth look at a pair of fascinating and famous college outfielders. LSU outfielder Derek Curiel and Georgia Tech's Drew Burress are the top two college outfielders on our draft rankings, but both draw varied responses from scouts and front office officials. We take a look at why.(0:00) Eric Booth Jr. vs. Kevin Roberts Jr.(4:00) Derek Curiel convo begins(10:00) Why JJ is skeptical(17:30) The college outfield demographic is scary(23:30) Drew Burress enters the fold(31:00) Why the right-right OF demographic is critiqued(34:00) A shifting bias for short hitters(48:00) On being OK with uncertaintyScouting 101 on Derek Curiel: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/scouting-derek-curiel-a-polished-pure-hitter-with-power-questions/Scouting 101 on Drew Burress:https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/scouting-drew-burress-a-tooled-up-college-bat-challenging-first-round-norms/Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://progressive.com* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/BA2022Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper are getting ready to head down to spring training to watch the Spring Breakout games and prowl the MiLB games on the back fields. So what do we hope to get out of the trips and what should prospect watchers glean from spring training performances?(01:00) How Shohei Ohtani and Khalil Watson taught us to not over-react(06:00) MiLB spring training assignments can offer useful info(08:45) The back fields give a useful sense of organization depth/talent(11:00) Previewing how we will build our April Top 100 Prospects update(18:05) Looking at our 2025 April Top 100 Movement. Some successes (Kevin McGonigle/Konnor Griffin) and one to regret (Colson Montgomery)(21:30) Why you can get more out of pitchers changes in spring training than hitters(27:00) Things we are looking forward to seeing on our tripUse our code TERRITORY10 for 10% off your next SeatGeek order* seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TERRITORY10 Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discountOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://progressive.com* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/BA2022Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
With USA Baseball's WBC hopes completely out of their own hands, Carlos Collazo, JJ Cooper and Geoff Pontes gathered for an emergency podcast to discuss what happened in Team USA's loss to Italy, how it happened and what it could mean going forward.(00:00) Setting the stage on a shocking evening of baseball(03:15) Looking through what happened in the game(10:00) What did Mark DeRosa know and when did he know it?(16:45) 3-1 = 3-1 = 3-1. That's not complicated math(21:15) Explaining the tiebreaker permutations.(25:00) Looking the USA managerial choices(31:45) This has been a systemic issue for Team USAOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://progressive.com* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/BA2022Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
On the new Draft Podcast, Carlos Collazo and JJ Cooper try to figure out what to make of UCLA outfielder Will Gasparino's amazing start to the season. Carlos also shares his reporting and in-person insights from seeing Justin Lebron and Roch Cholowsky this past weekend plus Carlos has a rising prep pitcher to watch.(0:00) Texas has been good to Carlos(5:15) Will Gasparino is on fire(12:00) Players who Gasparino reminds(21:00) Roch Cholowsky & Justin Lebron how they compare and contrast(26:00) Defensive reliability could be a separator between the two(31:00) Cooper Harris is going to climb in our next draft rankings updateOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://progressive.com* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/BA2022Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Matt Eddy and JJ Cooper take a look at a very different Nationals farm system in the latest Prospect Podcast Deep Dive. There's a new head of baseball operations in Paul Toboni and a very different approach to 2026 and beyond.(00:00) Rebuilt, Part II?(04:00) Breaking down No. 1 prospect SS Eli Willits(06:30) How much could Jarlin Susana factor into the top prospect ranking if fully healthy?(07:00) A lot of trades have bolstered the system, but it's also not a great sign(09:00) The big change that has to happen in Nationals player development(14:00) Looking at 2024 first-round pick Seaver King(15:20) What is the organization good at developing?(19:45) Who other than Willits could factor into next year's No. 1 prospect race?(22:30) Looking at prospects outside the Top 10Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://progressive.com* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/BA2022Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Matt Eddy and JJ Cooper are taking a look at a New York Mets farm system that is loaded in big league ready prospects for the latest Prospect Podcast Deep DIve.(00:00) It's been an interesting offseason(01:45) Breaking down Nolan McLean(05:45) Why the Brewers trade dealt players with tough fits(07:00) How good is Jonah Tong?(09:30) This system is at its peak right now(11:00) The Mets built prospects to the point where they could be traded(13:00) Who is next year's No. 1 prospect?(15:45) Where does Wandy Asigen fit in?(18:00) What is the system good at developing?(22:00) Looking at prospects outside the Top 10Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://progressive.com* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/BA2022Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Jon Meoli and JJ Cooper take an in-depth look at the Baltimore Orioles farm system for the lastest Prospect Podcast Deep Dive. This is an Orioles system that still has an elite prospect at the top, but thanks to trades and a massive 2025 draft haul, it also has more depth than before.(00:00) This has been a fascinating offseason.(03:50) Why Samuel Basallo is special(12:10) How is this system better or worse than last year?(16:30) The top prospects are no longer just high draft picks(19:10) Why Nate George stands out(22:15) If it clicks for Esteban Mejia, watch out(24:30) Where does Enrique Bradfield fit?(28:45) Looking at prospects outside the Top 10Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Bill Mitchell and JJ Cooper are taking and in-depth look at the Kansas City Royals farm system for the latest Baseball America Prospect Podcast Deep Dive.(00:00) The Royals are building something around Bobby Witt Jr.(02:00) What happened to help Carter Jensen break out in 2025. Why he's the No. 1 prospect(07:30) How the farm system has improved since last year. It's not just Carter Jensen.(14:00) Looking at the pair of top picks--Josh Hammond and Sean Gamble(17:20) What is the org good at developing?(22:30) Looking at prospects to know outside the top 10Royals Top 30 Prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2026-kansas-city-royals-top-mlb-prospects/Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
JJ Cooper and Bill Mitchell are talking all about the White Sox farm system on the latest Prospect Podcast Deep Dive. Even after graduating Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, Colson Montgomery and Shane Smith last year, this is a very solid top 10. (00:00) How the White Sox are making strides.(02:00) Why Noah Schultz stood out as the No. 1 prospect and why patience may be required.(09:00) Is the system better or worse than a year ago?(09:45) Looking at the 2025 draft picks(11:15) Other arms to watch(14:25) A pair of shortstops who could vie for No. 1 on this list next year(18:20) What this system is good at developing(23:00) Prospects outside of the top 10 to watchWhite Sox Top 30 Prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2027-chicago-white-sox/prospects/Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
On the latest Prospect Podcast Deep Dive, JJ Cooper and Nick Piecoro dig into the Arizona D-backs farm system. Overall the system has improved from a year ago, largely because of improved depth.(00:00) It's been a fascinating offseason(03:00) Ryan Waldschmidt is the No. 1 prospect, but there were a lot of candidates.(09:00) What is Waldschmidt's realistic timetable?(11:00) Why this system is better now than a year ago(16:00) Who could be next year's No. 1 prospect(22:00) What is Druw Jones' prospect status?(27:30) What are the D-backs good at developing?(31:30) D-backs prospects to know outside the top 10D-backs Top 30 Prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2026-arizona-diamondbacks-top-mlb-prospects/Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Last year, Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson helped the Athletics make a surprising second half run. Now the farm system has a lot of pitching on the way. Mark Chiarelli and JJ Cooper take an in-depth look at the A's farm system for the latest Prospect Podcast Deep Dive.(00:00) Leo De Vries gives this system a big boost (05:00) De Vries' strengths and weaknesses (10:00) How this system has changed over the past year (13:15) Looking at Jamie Arnold and Gage Jump (18:00) Wei-En Lin is another pitching prospect to remember (20:00) Who could rise up this list over the next year (26:45) What are the A's good at developing? (29:00) Other A's prospects to know outside the top 10 (33:00) Why the Athletics' pitching-heavy Top 30 lines up well with team needsA's Top 30: https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2015-athletics/prospects/Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Mark Chiarelli and JJ Cooper are here for the latest Baseball America Prospect Podcast Deep Dive to talk all about the Pirates farm system. It's not only led by the No. 1 prospect in baseball, but it has a top four to envy.(00:00) Why Konnor Griffin stands at the top of the Top 100(10:00) How it was hard for the Pirates to put a temp fix at shortstop ahead of Griffin(14:00) Bubba Chandler is one of the best pitching prospects in baseball(16:10) Why Edward Florentino and Seth Hernandez could be the next wave(26:00) More Bubba talk (28:30) Can the Pirates produce hitters now?(31:30) Other prospects who could make an impact quickly(34:30) Other Pirates sleeper prospects to keep an eye onPirates Top 30 Prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2026-pittsburgh-pirates-top-mlb-prospects/Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Ben Badler and JJ Cooper are taking an in-depth look at the Milwaukee Brewers farm system on the latest Prospect Podcast Deep Dive. This was already one of the best systems in baseball, and then the team added two more Top 100 Prospects in the Freddy Peralta trade.(00:00) Assessing where the Brewers are after the Peralta week's trade (05:00) Why Jesús Made was the clear and convincing No. 1 (10:00) Luis Peña is an excellent prospect in his own right (14:20) Why the Brewers' farm system stands out (19:30) The biggest wild card prospect in the Brewers' system (22:00) Who could rise up this list in the upcoming year? (25:00) What are the Brewers good at producing? (30:30) Sleeper prospects to know (37:00) The clever approach the Brewers have taken in the draftBrewers Top 30 Prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2030-milwaukee-brewers/prospects/?season=2026&ranking=preseasonBrewers 31-40 Prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/10-brewers-prospects-to-know-beyond-the-top-30-in-2026/The Brewers Clever Draft Strategy: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/how-the-brewers-exploited-a-draft-inefficiency-to-help-build-one-of-mlbs-top-systems/Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy